The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Disproportionate Impact In Our Region

Some Populations Disproportionaly Impacted By Disasters

• Low-Income Individuals and Families
• People of Color
• Older Adults
• People with Disabilities
• Those with Limited English Proficiency

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Social Vulnerability Index (SVI)

• Measures the ability to respond to and recover from disasters.
• Provides an index between 0 and 1.
• An SVI of 1 is considered highly vulnerable.
• Areas with high SVI have higher levels of loss caused by disasters.

SVI and COVID-19 In Harris County

Variables That Make Up SVI

• Below Poverty Level
• Unemployed

• No High School Diploma

• Aged 65 or Older
• Aged 17 or Younger

• Income

• Older Than Age 5 with a Disability
• Single-Parent Households
• Minority
• Speak English “Less Than Well”
• Multi-Unit Structures
• Mobile Homes
• Crowding
• No Vehicles
• Group Quarters

U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey

• Austin
• Brazoria
• Chambers
• Fort Bend
• Galveston
• Harris
• Liberty
• Montgomery
• Waller

• Financial Impacts - loss of employment income since March 13, 2020
• Food Insufficiency - often not enough to eat in the last 7 days
• Housing Insecurity - no confidence in ability to pay next month’s rent or mortgage on time
• Mental Health Impacts - feeling nervous, anxious or on edge nearly every day the past week

Financial Impacts: Someone in household has experienced a loss of employment income since March 13, 2020 by demographics.

Food Insufficiency: Often not enough to eat in the lat 7 days by demographics.

Housing Insecurity: No confidence in the ability to pay next month’s mortgage or rent by demographics.

Mental Health Impacts: Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge nearly every day for the last 7 days by demographics.

Has COVID-19 Had A Disproportionate Impact In Our Region?

• Given the limited scope - somewhat
• Of the two SVI characteristics looked at individuals with less education and lower income had disproportionate experiences with:
  • Employment income loss
  • Food Insufficiency
  • Housing Insecurity
  • Feelings of Anxiousness
• High SVI areas tend to have higher rates of COVID-19 deaths